Ecuador participated in their first FIFA World Cup. They were drawn in Group G with Italy, Mexico, and Croatia. They were eliminated from the competition in the Group Stage, but not before registering their first World Cup victory over 1998 third-place finisher, Croatia.
Ecuador was invited to play in the 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup, held in the United States. They were drawn into Group D with Haiti and Canada. Despite a tie among all the team in the group, they were eliminated from the competition in the Group Stage by a draw of lots.